Bag holder



June 13, 1939. F. P. NoFFslNGL-:R

BAG HOLDER Filed July 3, 1937 INVENTOR. fk5@ P /VoFFs//VofR MORNEY.

Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a bag holder, and while particularly designed for supporting burlap potato bags on potato grading machines, it is not limited to this particular use, but will be found useful in flour mills, grain elevators, vegetable picking plants, sugar factories, and many other places where bag filling is carried on.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, efficient, quick-acting device upon which the empty bags can be quickly and easily placed and the filled bags removed without requiring any hand manipulation of the bag holder itself, and yet which will securely support the bag with its throat wide open, regardless of the weight thereon, until it is desired to remove the same.

Other objects of the invention are to provide means whereby the bag holder will, when the operator simply leans against it, automatically disconnect the bag therefrom; to so construct the bag holder that there will be no dangerous, spring actuated hooks, arms, etc., which might result in injury to the operator; to construct a 'bag holder which forms a rigid frame Within the entire top of the bag to facilitate the filling thereof; and to provide a support for the bag holder which can be adjusted to accommodate bags of different sizes and lengths.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and eiciency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view illustrating the device in use for supporting a bag.

Fig. 2 is a plan View thereof with the bag removed.

Fig. 3 is a detail side view of the spring joint in the bag frame.

Fig. 4 is a section through the spring joint taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 3.

A typical burlap bag is illustrated at 9.

The bag holder proper consists of a rst U- shaped, stationary, frame member IIJ, preferably formed of channel iron, as illustrated. A movable U-shaped frame member I I extends into the extremities of the frame I0, so that the two frames together outline a rectangular frame. The flanges of the channel iron of which the member IG is formed form perfect guide members to maintain the member II in horizontal alignment with the member Ill.

The two extremities of the member I0 are preferably, but not necessarily, closed to form tunnels I2 through which the extremities of the member I I pass. A tension spring I3 extends between the extremities of the frame member I0, and the extremities of the frame member II at each side of the frame. The spring I2, as illustrated, is secured between an ear I4 on the tunnel I2 and an attachment screw I5 threaded into the extremity of the member II. The screw I5 contacts the tunnel and serves as a stop to limit the extreme opening of the frame. A pushing finger is hinged on each screw I5 and extends rearwardly therefrom supported by the lower flange of the channel iron of the member Ill. Each member carries two pointed bag hooks I6, there being one hook at each corner of each member. 20

When placing a bag on the device, the operator leans against the member II, thus forcing it toward the member IIJ and stretching the springs. He then places the back of the bag in the rear of the member IIJ, so that it will engage the two hooks I5 thereon. He now lifts the front of the bag in front of the member II and allows the springs to expand the frame so that all four hooks IB are forced into the bag material. The holder then forms a continuous rectangular frame within the top of the bag, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

When the bag is filled, the operator again leans against the member II, forcing it inwardly. This movement causes the two pushing members I1 to travel rearwardly along the lower flanges of the member IB, until they engage the bag and push it from the two rearward hooks I 1. This releases the bag at the back and allows it to be easily drawn from the hooks at the front. The operation can be reversed, if more convenient for the 0 operator, by placing the bag on the front hooks rst and then raising behind the frame I0.

The bag frame or holder, as thus described, forms the principal part of the invention. I'his holder may be supported in any desired way by attaching the member I Il to any suitable supporting structure. For instance, in a potato grading machine, the member I0 would be secured directly to the frame of the machine below the delivery chute. As illustrated, however, the frame is supported upon a portable platform structure to form a complete bag supporting unit.

This structure consists of an angle iron bar I8, which is welded along the edge of one of its flanges to the upper edge of the member I0, so as to extend rearwardly and downwardly therefrom, as shown in Fig. 1. This allows an open channel along the back of the member I0 for the placing of the bag. The angle bar I8 is bolted to a pair of upper channel members I9 which telescopically fit into a pair of lower channel members 20. The channel members are formed with a series of spaced-apart bolt yholesZI through which a pair of ,clamp bolts 22 are placed. This allows they members I9 and' 20 to be adjusted for vertical heighth to accommodate any length of bag. .The members 20 are turned at the bottom toextend beneath a platform 23, upon which the bag rests, as it is being filled.

While a speciiic form of the improvement hasV other; tension springs extending between the overlapped extremities of the two frame members so as to force them oppositely outward from each other; bag engaging members on each frame positioned so as to be forced into the material of a bag as said frame members move outward from each other; and means on said movable frame for disconnecting the bag from the bag engaging members of the fixed frame. member when said two members approach each other.

2. A bag Aholder comprising: aVv firstk U-shapedY frame member, there being a channel extending longitudinally about said member on the outer face thereof; a second movable U-shaped frame Vmember having its extremities traveling in the' channel of the rst frame member to form a rectangular frame; bag engaging fangsoneach frame member, the fangs of one frame member extending oppositely outward from the fangs on therother frame member; a spring positioned to force said frames away from each other to cause saidprongs to engage a bag; and a pushing member hinged to each extremityV of said second member and riding in the channel of the rst member so `that when said two frame members are forced together said pushing members will pushY said bag from the bag engaging hooks of the first member. Y f FRED P. NOFFSINGER. 

